Santa Fe Christian Schools

Overpriced for the quality of education. If you want to go to a school that is premier in both sports and academics, check out Bishops, La Jolla Country Day or Francis Parker, SFC simply cannot compete overall with those schools academically.

If you are looking for a Christian center school, this is not the place to send your kids.Their main focus is themselves and sports in which they excel, but they do whatever it takes to win including intentionally injuring the other players, even when they are not even playing, calling them worthless and insulting them with colorful vocabulary. for me this speaks very poor of their coaches, as well as those who are allowing this to happen,These things have happened multiple times. I will never send my kids to a school like this.
--Submitted by a parent

I can only speak to the lower school, but I love the sense of community that's found in this school. Students, teachers and parents are loving towards one another that's beyond anything I've seen in other schools. What's more is that teacher's are attentive and engaging and the principal is completely hands on (in a good way!) and well informed. She knows all "her kids." I am continually impressed by the quality of instruction and how the kids are gently encouraged to achieve beyond their comfort zone.
--Submitted by a parent

Santa Fe has some great qualities that allow me to rank it above average. Academically, the school is competitive amongst the other elementary schools in the area. The middle school is weaker academically but still solid. Middle school is a difficult time socially for kids and I think SFC handles that area fairly well. The high school really shines, however the tradeoff for going to this smaller Christian school is that there are not as many electives to choose from. Still, the students get into great colleges. The parent community is very involved, in good and not-so-good ways. A lot of indulged kids, and not just from a economic standpoint. More than a few families seem to be entering the school that may not necessarily be practicing Christians. We appreciate the core value of the subjects taught unlike the public schools, where activism and political correctness take priority.
--Submitted by a parent

My two daughters started attending SFCS in middle school and my older one is in now in 10th grade. Academically, the school is excellent. The entire curriculum is designed so that all graduating students are eligible to attend a UC school About 40% of the graduating class apply and are accepted in UC schools with many being accepted into the top schools in the US. But that is not what gets me excited about SFCS. It is the culture. The staff, teachers and students really seem to have both a heart for God and each other. Kids are very encouraging to each other and respectful to adults. I volunteered to chaperone at the 8th grade field trip to Washington DC and I was very, very impressed with how the kids behaved. I think it is worth the tuition I pay because I believe that at SFCS my kids are maturing in a way where I think they are going to be the kind of adults that most people will want to be around. And the kind of adults that will make a difference in the lives of the people with whom they interact. I'd work two jobs to keep them there!
--Submitted by a parent

My 6th and 8th graders started at SFC this year and we are absolutely delighted. The school makes a great effort to connect new students and families with existing students, including a "buddy" family to help answer questions and to help introduce the new students around. Of course we love the small class sizes, and the students are held to very good academic standards. The homework seems appropriate and I never feel like the students are just getting "busy work". The teachers genuinely care about the students and several have gone out of their way to help my kids or talk to me about opportunities that might help them grow. There is also an "Advisory" class, where students are in a gender and grade specific class for a short time each day--the teacher can address any questions or issues the students have, or discuss what they learned in the weekly chapel. And the chapels are webcast so parents can "attend" and see the same message the kids are getting. We especially love that Christian teachings are integrated into every class, not just as one separate Bible or Religion class. We changed over from a public school and from the first moment we have felt comfortable and welcome.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids are happy every day they go to school. They have teachers, coaches, and staff who know them and support them. My kids have been encouraged to try new things (cross country, chamber chorale, tech electives, ASB, AP classes). They have learned how to take risks, what to do when they stumble, and how to celebrate when they succeed. Lifelong skills.
--Submitted by a parent

Amazing community of students, parents and teachers who love God and try to live their faith in all they do. My children are challenged academically but the teacher to child ratio allows for extra help if needed. We are middle income family and struggle to make our tuition payments but it worth every sacrifice. We came from public school and my children immediatley felt the loved and accepted at Sante Fe Christain. They have reationships with teachers and students that will last a lifetime!
--Submitted by a parent

Watch out for this school! Santa Fe Christian is a very small school and there are cliques galore. If you want to fit in, you basically have to act and dress a certain way. Almost all of the students here act fake and most likely the loner kids are actually the most real, down to earth people in the school. I haven't met more judgmental, rich, snobs in one place than at Santa Fe Christian. On the bright side, there are many teachers who really care about the students and they want them to learn and more important, have a relationship with Christ. However, if you want a loving christian environment, SFC is not the place for you. The students are unaccepting and are very pretentious. All they think about is themselves. I really wished I had gone to a public school instead of this place. Beware!

Way too much money for a medocre education (at best). Kids do well at this school because they are under challenged. My children attended this school during 2006-2007 headmaster 'controversy'. Parents were split between how they felt about the changes going on. Regardless, the nastiness that was ignited was unbelievable. Parents shot off mass emails flighting back and forth which were downright evil. It was the most horrifiying exchange ever for a school claiming to be Christian. And if you look in that years yearbook you will see a page devoted to juniors and they're new, fancy, cars....in my opinion, there is a bit of 'who drives what', and 'who lives where', and 'who's dad does this or that', and 'who donated for this or that.' whatever, enjoy your school!
--Submitted by a parent